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Chapter Text

"Im sorry it took me so long, is everyone alr-"

It was too late.

Izuku arrived just a second too late.

Katsuki Bakugo's lifeless body layed out in front of him, presented to him in a gruesome manner, with no semblance of mercy shown from Shigaraki. There was a puddle of blood pooled over him where his heart used to be, his head hanging limply to the side. His eyes lacked the fire Izuku was so used to. His mouth was hung open loosely, devoid of any and all emotions. This was the most peaceful Izuku had ever seen him, it wasn't right. He was always so full of energy and life. Even after fighting villains, Katsuki has never lost his spark. Which was why Izuku saw him as the perfect image of victory. Seeing Katsuki now, defeated, makes Izuku feel like they've already lost the war.

"Ka-"

Izuku instinctively tries to call his name, but the words get lost in his sorrow. He can't speak. He feels like all of the air in his lungs is leaving him, with every breath it becomes more difficult to take the next. Time almost seems to pause at that very moment, the whole world coming to a screeching halt as if Katsuki was the very thing holding the strings of the universe together, and now that he is gone, it all comes unraveling. Shigaraki starts ranting somewhere behind him but Izuku can't make out what exactly he's saying over the ringing in his ears. He starts panicking even more somehow when his vision goes dark and blurry, starting to lose sight of all that he has left of Katsuki.

Everything around him goes dark.

Chapter Text

Izuku wakes up in his bed, still panting and struggling to breathe. It still feels like a weight has been placed on his chest but as he looks around, taking in his surroundings, it starts feeling lighter. He sees a drop fall down onto the sheet that is covering him, making him realize he was crying in his sleep. He brings his hand up to his face and wipes away all of the tears from that night, no more fall. Izuku grips the sheets on the bed tightly to ground himself, feeling the soft fabric between his scarred, shaking fingers. He calms himself by chanting "Kacchan isn't dead, it was all just a dream. He isn't dead. He isn't dead." He mutters softly, not caring if someone overhears him but not wanting to wake or disturb anyone. The assurance he gives himself calms him enough that he can start to think. Izuku checks his phone for the date, still feeling a bit disoriented. It wasn't unusual for him to forget what day it was first thing in the morning. What was unusual, however, is how he somehow forgot such an important day. His dream must have caused him to forget all about their plan that day.

He was going to war.

The realization that today's the day hits Izuku like a bag of bricks and suddenly he's wide awake, getting ready and rushing out the door. They werent at the dorms, but the building layout was similar enough that he knew where he was going. He walks into the common room where some of his classmates, the ones that have woken up at least, are residing.

Uraraka was sitting at the kitchen eating something for breakfast, probably something sweet as far as Izuku could tell from the smell wafting from the kitchen, Yaoyorozu came over and gave her a cup of tea. Uraraka thanked her and they started conversing with each other happily. He spots Kaminari and Kirishima at the couch, the former sitting on the edge happily chatting with the latter who has his arm thrown across the back. He sees blue hair and glasses at the other couch, Iida gives him a smile when he sees Izuku walk in.

It was odd that everyone here was so casual, considering that today they would have to go fight the most destructive villain in history. Despite that, it was nice to have the calm before the storm. Izuku was thankful for the sense of normalcy, but something still wasn't quite right. This was exactly what had happened in my dream.Even down to where everyone was sitting, everything was exactly as it had been in his dream. Before he could overthink it, he heard someone calling his name.

"Midoriya! Good morning!" Iida announced. Iida had said that in his dream as well. Does that mean Kacchan-

"Good morning, Deku!" Uraraka chimes from her spot in the kitchen, cutting off his train of thought. "Did you sleep well? You don't look so great.."

Izuku responds with an "I'm all good! Just had a weird dream is all, no need to worry about me!" He smiles at her to seal the deal and she smiles back at him, seemingly content with his answer as she goes back to whatever she was eating.

He turns his attention back to the room. Looking around, he scans for blonde hair. When he doesn't find it, he feels a sinking in his gut. "Where's Kacchan? He usually wakes up pretty early, I'm surprised he isn't here already."

The sinking feeling is quickly relieved when Uraraka answers his question, "I think he went for a walk, he said something about needing some fresh air."

That sounds like Kacchan.Izuku thinks and sighs in relief. Uraraka quirks an eyebrow at him curiously. "Did you need him for something?"

The thing is Izuku did need him, but for nothing in particular. He doesn't know how to explain he senses something is wrong and he needs to know Katsuki is okay. He wants to say I need to see that his heart is tucked safety in his chest, I need to see that fire burning in his eyes, I need to see the emotion painted on his face. Instead he blurts out, "It's nothing! I was just wondering why he wasn't here yet, thank you for telling me Ochaco." Uraraka still looks at him, a tinge of worry in her eyes. She is a phenomenal friend, being able to read Izuku like a book. Izuku tenses under her gaze, not wanting her to be worried about him. Too late.

"Would you like some breakfast?" Yaoyorozu points to the counter where there's a tall stack of fluffy pancakes. Izuku looks at it hungrily, the anxious feeling from last night being gone and the only thing left in its place being hunger. "Yeah, I'd love some!" he says enthusiastically as he sits down next to Uraraka. Yaoyorozu smiles at him as she hands him a plate with two fluffy pancakes topped with the reddest strawberries Izuku has ever seen in his life, all smothered in sugary syrup. He has never felt so eager to eat anything.

He had been so hungry and ready to eat the stack of pancakes in front of him that he hadn't stopped to think that the pancakes had also been in his dream, the taste causing a warped version of nostalgia. He stared off, deep in thought, as he chewed. Uraraka sensed his unease.

"Hey Deku, if something is wrong would you like to talk about it?"

Izuku shifts uncomfortably in his seat. He's still a bit confused on the situation himself, which is why he wanted to avoid talking about it, but if there's anything he's learned from Uraraka its that he doesn't have to deal with any burden on his own. He sighs, and stops eating for a moment.

"It's just about my dream, it was playing out the events of the war. The weirdest part about it is, everything that's happening now also happened in my dream. I guess I just feel a bit put off by the whole thing." Izuku admitted to his friends. He felt a lot better after, especially when Uraraka took his hand in her own, knowing that he found comfort in it.

Yaoyorozu clears her throat, taking the opportunity to join in on the conversation, "That sounds like a known phenomenon called Deja Reve. It's when something occurs in your dreams and then it coincidentally happens the next day. It's categorized along the same lines as Deja vu. Nothing to be worried about." He gave a relieved sigh at her answer. It was reassuring to know that nothing was wrong, it was just a strange coincidence.

"Thats a relief, thank you. I'm sure this feeling will wear off soon, right?" If it doesn't, that must mean that Kacchan-

His thoughts are interrupted by Ochaco once again. "I'm sure it will, Deku", she says while squeezing his hand as a promise.

It doesn't wear off.

Izuku stands outside troy, the fortress that was built for his class, in his hero costume. He was waiting for the rest of his class to show up when Katsuki walks up to him, just as he had in his dream. It wasn't wearing off.

"So this is it, huh? We're going to war." Katsuki had his hero costume on, making the words seem all the more real.

"Yeah."

The sound of birds chirping fills the empty silence between the two. Izuku found it grounding, in a way, that the birds were unaffected by the current situation, going on with their usual cheerful singing as if nothing was happening. Even if Shigaraki turned everything left of humanity to dust, the birds would still sing.

Katsuki's voice cut out the silence. Izukus focus turned back to the blonde, forgetting all about the birds. "I know I've been a dick to you."

"And youve apologized."

"Yeah yeah and you've forgiven me, whatever. What I'm saying is, I've been horrible and done horrible things to you. But now it's my job to help you, and I intend to do that. Youll need all the help you can get, don't push me away again, got it?"

Izuku nods, "Yeah, I won't. I don't think I could defeat him alone."

"And you don't have to." Katsuki smirks, "If you're in trouble, I'll save you. If I'm in trouble, you save me. That's the way we will achieve a flawless victory."

Katsuki's confidence eases Izuku a bit. Of course, Kacchan won't let us end this with anything other than perfection.

It felt like a lie he was telling himself as reassurance but he let himself bask in his ignorance, even if only for a day. "Right. Save to win."

"And win to save."

He arrived too late to save him.

It's somehow worse the second time. Now it feels real. Katsuki is dead and Izuku feels like he's next.

Everything is, once again, bathed in darkness.

Chapter Text

Izuku wakes up with a gasp. This time he doesn't have the patience to process what happened. He rushes out of his room with a jolt of green lightning, catching Katsuki before he can walk out on him. He grabs Katsuki's arm, not letting him go. He doesn't want to make that mistake again, he can't make that mistake again.

"Tch, what's this about Izuku?"

He didn't think it through before he did it and feels a bit of embarrassment come over him, he couldn't really care less about his self image in that moment, though. All he cared about at that second was making sure Katsuki was okay. Izuku is breathing heavily and looks up into fiery red eyes, which are looking right back at him. Izuku scans Katsuki's face, reassuring himself that Katsuki is alive and well.

Izuku breathes out a, "Sorry, bad dream."

It was just a dream. He keeps telling that to himself, he doesn't know how much longer he can believe it. He let's go of his arm, now aware that everything is fine.

Izuku didn't even take note of how tense Katsuki was until he let out a shaky breath in reply, nodding his head. He turns swiftly on his heels before walking out the door to go on his morning walk. Some part of Izuku couldn't bear the sight of Katsuki walking out, leaving him in the dust.

"Wait!"

"What do you want now, Izuku?"

"Can I.. go with?"

"Eh?"

"Can I go with you?" Izuku repeats.

"Eh, suit yourself." Katsuki declared as he stepped out once more, holding the door open for Izuku.

It was early morning, the sun just barley peeking through the clouds. There was just a slight breeze, making it the perfect temperature to take a stroll. In contrast, the buildings below were completely demolished, leaving a fuzzy gray haze around them. Izuku winced at the sight. People lived in those buildings, he thought with a shudder. All the more reason why they had to win this war, even if Izuku didn't want to relive any of the horrors he's already witnessed twice.

Izuku and Katsuki didn't say a word the entire time they were out. They both preferred it that way. They had a way of communicating without even using words, they had no need to say anything.

Izuku watched him closely, though. He felt as though his senses were heightened from the adrenaline that was slowly fading away, using the last of it to listen to Katsuki's signs of life. His footsteps, his breathing, and, most of all, listening for his heartbeat. Katsuki says nothing about it.

The rest of that morning stays the same, apart from the fact that the pancakes were now room temperature from sitting out for the duration of their hike around the building. He still tears in hungrily, the pancakes still tasting just as good as his dream.

His dream, his dream, his dream.It was definitely just a dream, just a coincidence that the day had gone exactly as it had in my dream. It was just a very vivid dream. Nothing more.

He thought about it more as he ate, pondering what it all means. Maybe I can use it to my advantage. In my dream, Toga pulled me away to Okuto island which caused me to arrive at the coffin in the sky late. If I know it's coming, I can simply avoid her. Izuku had a plan, he was prepared this time.

As he's cheerily chewing on his pancakes, he senses someone watching him. He hadn't noticed before since he was deep in his own thoughts, but now he noticed crimson eyes observing him from across the room. Once he makes eye contact, a startled Katsuki widens his eyes but doesn't break his gaze. Theres a lingering silence between them, which Katsuki decides to suddenly break.

"You look tired. Did you sleep at all last night?"

Izuku hadn't even noticed before but, now that it was mentioned, he did feel quite tired. The thing is, though, was that he had slept that entire night. His following yawn disagrees with him.

"I slept the whole night Kacchan." He claimed with a frown, "I don't know why I'm still tired."

"You look like you haven't slept in days, maybe you should get some more rest. It seems like you need it"

Izuku sighs, thanks Katsuki for looking out for him and trudges back to his room, immediately collapsing into his bed as if he were suddenly turned into a ragdoll. He shuts his eyes securely closed as he starts to fall asleep.

Katsuki speaks in the softest tone of voice Izuku has ever heard from him, as if he were a fragile object that could be broken if he spoke even slightly too loud. "Hey Izuku, time to get up."

"What?"

"You have to get ready Izuku. We are leaving soon, did you get enough rest?"

Izuku rubs his sleepy eyes as he sits up in his temporary bed. He still finds it odd that he had been so tired, despite the fact that he had slept the whole night. Letting Katsuki's words guide him, he hoisted himself up to his feet.

"Right"

Katsuki hesitantly starts speaking. "I won't let us lose. We will achieve a flawless victory, I promise."

To Izuku, Katsuki had said this twice before. Each time, it feels more and more hollow. A statement without any proof.

"Yeah. We won't lose." I won't lose you. I have a plan now.

Izuku just narrowly avoids Toga's attempt to pull him into her warp gate. The portal closes over her and Izuku sighs in relief. Now that she's gone, Izuku can fight Shigaraki alongside Katsuki just as they originally intended.

Everything was going smoothly. With Izuku and Katsuki working together, Shigaraki was taking some serious damage. Izuku thought that things might actually work out. He was hesitantly hopeful.

That was until erasure stopped. Monoma had blinked, although it wasn't his fault. The warp gate had opened back up and copy after copy of twice had rolled out, causing him to hit the ground and making him blink.

Shigaraki wasted no time, the first thing he did was take down the coffin in the sky using decay. They catapulted towards the ground, being left in the dust of what was once a highly complex contraption built to defeat him. After that, almost like clockwork, he grabbed a hold of Katsuki.

Katsuki disintegrated in his grasp.

Everything went black.

Chapter Text

Izuku couldn't see anything past the tears clouding his vision, not that he needed to. He was stuck in his own head, wondering what was happening to him.

Izuku couldn't breathe. He didn't know what was going on, but one thing was certain.

Katsuki had died and it wasn't just a dream.

Something about knowing that he had watched Katsuki die multiple times made Izuku sick to his stomach. He doesn't know how long he sits there like that, he can't do much else. Everytime he tries to get up, his knees wobble and he collapses back onto the mattress. Time flies and Izuku sheds countless tears.

"Deku are you up-"

Uraraka was the first one to check in on him. At this point, Izuku has cried so much his bed was soaked with his tears and his eyes were puffy and red. He was leaning back against the wall and clutching tightly to his shirt, right over his heart.

"Deku! What's wrong?"

He can't speak. All that comes out are choked sobs. Uraraka just pulls him into an embrace and he continues to sob over her shoulder. He struggles to breathe through the tears. Time doesn't matter at this point. Uraraka just holds him as he cries, waiting patiently for him to collect himself.

"Kacchan died. " Izuku finally makes out. It's shaky and quiet but it's enough for Uraraka to hear what he said.

"Izuku, I just saw him this morning. He's alive. It's okay." She whispers reassuringly to him, gently patting his back.

"I saw him die. Three times. He's died three times and I just watched, I couldn't do anything about it."

Uraraka grabs him by the shoulder, pulling him away from her. "Deku, he is not dead. Do you need to go and see him?"

She always seems to know exactly what he needs. He nods and is given no time to think before she grabs him and pulls him out of his room, towards Katsuki's. She slams the door open loudly.

"Pink cheeks? The fuck is this ab-"

Before katsuki can finish his sentence, Uraraka is bringing Izuku into the room and into Katsuki's line of sight.

"Izuku?"

As Izuku looks at Katsuki his tears start slowing down.

"Izuku, what happened?" Katsuki was clearly freaked out but trying to remain calm for him, he was in enough panic for the both of them. Izuku appreciated the sentiment.

"You died, Kacchan." Izuku is sure of this now, he had actually died. He sobs at the memory. "I couldn't do anything to save you."

"No Izuku. I'm right here, look at me." Katsuki walks over and grabs him by the shoulders. He grabs Izukus hand and places it over his own heart. "See, still beating. You really think some stupid villains can defeat me?"

Katsuki spoke with that signature smirk on his face. Izuku would have laughed at the irony of what he had just said, if only the reality wasn't so grim. He felt exhausted from crying, which Katsuki noticed and placed him on his bed. Izuku had basically passed out the moment he hit the comfortable mattress, Katsuki allowed him to sleep there.

He awoke to the sound of Katsuki talking, a sound he could get used to waking up to. It was gentle as though to not wake him up, but stern enough to get across the point of whatever he was saying.

"I don't know if we can go through with it today, Izuku practically passed out from crying. I don't know how he would manage to fight a war in this state."

He realized quickly that Katsuki was on a call. He heard the muffled voice of someone on the other end, although he could not make out what they were saying.

"I can't just cancel plans my ass. I thought the point was that we would start the war when we needed to so that we would have the upper hand. He's the center of our plan and he has been crying for god only knows how long-"

Katsuki had been cut off and was now grinding his teeth together in frustration.

"You'd better." Katsuki uttered in the most threatening tone of voice Izuku had heard out of him in a while.

Katsuki turned around and his features immediately smoothed out when he saw Izuku watching him. The corners of his face pulled into a look of surprise, replacing the one of anger.

"Who were you calling?" Izuku asked hesitantly. If Katsuki had calmed down he didn't want to rile him up again, however, his curiosity got the better of him. Katsuki went back to his common scowl and sat down on the bed, avoiding the silhouette of Izuku.

"All might"

That.. wasnt what Izuku was expecting.

"All might? Why were you so mad at him?"

"Because I'm right," he huffed and crossed his arms, "and he was wrong"

That didn't really answer Izuku's question but he knows he shouldnt try to pry answers out of Katsuki. He told him only what he wanted to. Izuku groaned and layed his head back down. He had a horrible headache from all the stress and his eyes still stung from all the crying.

"Are you doing better now?" Katsuki had spoken softly.

"Much better." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth.

"Why were you crying?"

Izuku hesitated to tell him. He didn't know if Katsuki would believe him on the whole I'm stuck in a timeloop situation. He might as well try though. After all, if it went wrong, Katsuki won't remember it by the next loop.

"I saw you die. 3 times. It might sound weird, but I think I'm repeating this day over and over again."

Katsuki looks at him with a mix of confusion and concern written on his face.

"You sure it wasn't just a bad dream"

"At first I thought it was just a really vivid dream but now I'm pretty sure."

Katsuki had now looked fearful, Izuku immediately felt a pang of guilt for having mentioned his death in front of him. Way to go, you idiot.

"The day resetting, is it correlated to my death in any way?"

Izuku hadn't even thought about that. "I don't actually know. Everytime the day reset it was after I saw you dead." Izuku admitted. Katsuki clearly looked deep in thought, trying as hard as Izuku to figure this whole thing out.

"I just won't die today, then. Maybe it will break the loop."

"How? How can you be so sure you'll live?"

Katsuki checked his phone with a satisfied smirk before shoving it in Izuku's hands. "I don't know, maybe because the war has been postponed."

Izuku's mouth drops in shock.

He was staring at katsuki's text messages with all might, the most recent one being a message from all might that explained how he was able to postpone the war until tomorrow. Izuku couldn't be happier.

"Couldn't have you fighting if you feel like shit. I presented a great argument. Could have presented an even better argument if I knew about this whole time loop situation."

Izuku didn't know what to say, "Kacchan, thank you. I.. didn't even know I needed this. I've been at war for 3 days it's just- I'm glad you've given me this break. Thank you."

Katsuki's cheeks turn a soft pink in response before he barks out an obligatory, "don't mention it nerd."

He hesitantly adds on a, "Make the most out of this break and go to sleep, you probably need it."

Izuku frowns as katsuki stands up to walk away from him.

"Wait!"

Katsuki immediately snaps back to look at him.

"Could you stay? At least until I fall asleep."

Katsuki nods his head before crawling into the bed beside Izuku. He turns on his back staring at the ceiling and Izuku watches him closely, taking note of the way in which his chest rises with every breath. He hears his presence as he slips back into sleep.

He wakes up to see Katsuki still there. Apparently at some point, he had also fallen asleep. His breathing kept a steady pace as he slept, marking Izuku's new favorite song. It was a song that meant his childhood best friend turned enemy turned rival turned best friend was alive. He was breathing. His heart was beating, which eased Izuku's own.

When Katsuki woke up, Izuku was met with crimson red eyes. They lacked the usual fire that katsuki's eyes tended to have, but not the way it was when he died. It was gone but this time something else took it's place, the red feeling less like a fire and more like something softer. Something like a bunch of roses, still bearing thorns but a beautiful thing you can hold if you're careful.

Something had changed in the way Katsuki looked at Izuku, and he hadn't noticed until now. He suddenly felt overwhelmed by his gaze and had to look away.

Katsuki's voice still had the lingering traces of sleep as he asked, "Are you hungry?"

"Yeah."

"Come get something then."

Katsuki had pulled Izuku out of bed and into the kitchen and sat him down at the table. lzuku didn't know what time it was but it was late enough in the day that almost all of their friends were loitering around the common area, their conversations becoming a white noise in the background.

"What do you want Izuku?"

"Huh? What do we have?"

"Don't worry about that, I'll make something. What do you want?"

Izuku wasn't used to this level of kindness from the chronically angry blonde. He was worried to request something that was too hard to make, but he really could only think of one food to say.

"Can you make Katsudon?"

"Alright. It's gonna be spicy." He turned and swifty moved into the kitchen

"NO! KACCHAN!" Izuku called after him

"Too late"

"But you make it too spicy!" Izuku whined.

"I'll accommodate for your severe lack of spice tolerance

"Hey! I have a decent spice tolerance, you're just not human"

Katsuki laughs. Genuinely laughs. It warms Izuku's heart to think that I'm the one who made him laugh like that. He can't help but smile at the sound.

As Katsuki cooks Izuku's katsudon, he can't help but get excited at the smell of his favorite food being cooked by his favorite person. Okay, maybe he was tied for favorite person only with his own mother. Soon enough there's a hot plate filled with food sitting in front of him, he wastes no time thanking Katsuki before diving right in.

Katsudon is his favorite food, Katsuki may have just perfected it. It was spicy but not too much so, he really did accommodate for Izuku's spice tolerance. Everything was perfectly cooked and just the right texture. It melted in his mouth.

"This is amazing Kacchan!"

"Really? Because I put a lot of cyanide in there." Katsuki jokes.

Izuku lets out a laugh.

It was nice for the both of them to be together and having fun like they were. Eventually, though they both grew tired for the night.

"Hey Kacchan?"

"Yes Izuku?"

"Is it okay if I sleep in your room tonight? I can sleep on the floor or whatever if you need me to, I guess I just need to know you're okay."

"Suit yourself. I don't care where you sleep as long as you get some."

Izuku had walked with Kacchan into his room for the night, getting up into bed with the other. It was comforting to Izuku to know that he was within arms distance. He can easily reach the other if he needs anything, and vise versa.

"Hey Kacchan?"

Kacchan doesn't say anything but hums quietly to let Izuku know he's listening.

"You've been really nice to me today. I know you've been trying to be nicer but you've been...really nice. Not that I hate it or anything, I was just wondering what changed?"

"You've been nice to me. I died and you're willing to watch it over and over again to save me. I don't know if I could do that if it was you dying." Katsuki turns his head as far away from Izuku as possible. "It's the least I can do."

"Well, thank you anyway."

"I know you can do it. You'll give us a flawless victory."

Izuku fell asleep, and the day repeats.

Chapter Text

Izuku didn't know how this whole time loop thing worked, the fact that the day repeated without Katsuki's death wasn't helping his confusion.

He had a couple theories, one being that Katsuki died during the night and that's why he was reset back. The worst option Izuku could come up with was that there was no way to break the loop and he would be doing this until he died. Izuku tried not to think about that. Another, and much more likely, option was that there would be no way to save Katsuki on any other day.

Katsuki's life hung in a delicate balance. Izuku was determined to get it right.

Izuku feels like he has an opportunity to give the heroes the most ideal ending to this war. He will be able to see it over and over again and pick up on things they might not notice right away, he can prepare them for what he knows is to come.

He knows he will throw away a lot of his loops trying to figure out the intricacies of the battle. He thinks, in the end, that it will be worth it. Wildly guessing could take him forever, it's a better chance if he gathers as much information as he can.

"If you're in trouble, I'll save you. If I'm in trouble, you save me. That's the way we will achieve a flawless victory."

So that's what he decides to do.

Chapter Text

Izuku has lost count of how many days it's been. It could have been years for all he knows. He, at one point, tried to keep a tally. The problem was that everytime he woke up, the tallies would be gone. After that, he tried to keep a mental note but hes long since lost track.

Another thing that sucked about the whole situation was that he couldn't write in any of his notebooks. Any time he kept a note of something that happened during the war, he would wake up and it would be gone. He had to keep track of everything mentally. He forgot crucial information at times, meaning he would have to go back and relearn it.

He feels like he's tried every possible thing to get them a flawless victory. None of that worked, Katsuki died everytime. Izuku doesn't know what he's missing.

All this to say, he was exhausted.

He was tired of the same thing everyday. He had eaten the same pancakes for breakfast for an undisclosed amount of days in a row. It started to grow tasteless in his mouth. He's started just trying to find something else in the fridge or skipping breakfast altogether. His friends conversations became monotonous, having heard the same ones over and over.

War became his routine.

Hell, even the sight of Katsuki's dead body didn't bother him anymore. He's become numb to seeing it, knowing that everything will be reset back to normal the next day.

His life became waking up, eating the same pancakes once again, listening to his friends talk about the same thing for the 1000th time, going to war, finding out some moving part of what happened during the war, try and likely fail to keep a mental note of it, watch Katsuki die, repeat.

Izuku became sick of it. He wonders what it will be like when he goes back to normal time, he knows it will all be worth it if he can just save Katsuki. Although, he's making it incredibly difficult.

This loop is a bit different, however.

This loop is something new.

It starts out the same. He doesn't know what exactly he did different this time around. He just knows what is right in front of him.

That being Katsuki Bakugo.

This time Izuku winds up with a blood ridden Katsuki laying in his arms. He's not dead yet, but he's on the brink. In his previous loops, he had never had the time to talk to Katsuki when he was this close to death. It had always been all or nothing.

Katsuki spit out a spray of blood from a peirce in his lung. He was laying on Izuku, dying, with roughly a minute left to spare.

This loop would be different.

This time Izuku got to hear Katsuki's final thoughts.

"Izuku, I think I'm dying."

For some reason, even if he knows the day is going to reset anyways, hearing him say that makes Izuku's heart break all over again.

"I'm here Kacchan, you're not going to die." It's a lie, but he hopes it means he can talk to him for a little longer.

"There's so many things I never got to tell you."

A part of Izuku feels like he shouldn't know what Katsuki is about to say. He should be able to say tell him when he is ready, not being forced to by death. That is, after Izuku saves him. The curiosity gets the better of him.

"Like what Kacchan?"

Katsuki coughs up more blood as he tries to speak, Izuku is barely able to piece together his words through the sound, "Like how I feel you're years ahead of me. You've always had a desire to save people, I didn't get it so I pushed you away. When I saw you in danger though, my body just moved on it's own. At that point, I finally understood your need to save people. You've changed me Izuku."

This is the first time in a long time that Izuku has actually cried.

"I can't say how much you mean to me, Izuku, but I can try."

Izuku holds in a breath.

At last, Katsuki breathes out a simple, "I love you."

The world pauses at the confession. Izuku doesn't know what to say to that. Luckily, he doesn't need to know.

Katsuki draws his final breath, and the world resets once again.

Chapter Text

Izuku wakes up back in his room. This was the only time he ever wished he was back at the battlefield, he wanted answers out of Katsuki that he could only have gotten in that moment.

Maybe I still can.

He usually despises telling Katsuki and the others about the time loop situation, he only does if he has to. Not because he doesn't think they could help but, rather, because he hates having to explain it multiple times. It's tedious.

Similarly, he hates telling them anything they said or did in a previous loop. They get confused and ask about it which, once again, leads to Izuku having to explain his current predicament.

This time is an exception though, Izuku needs answers. He bolts out of his room once again catching Katsuki by the arm before he leaves.

"Kacchan. What do you mean you love me?"

Katsuki's face goes as white as paper, all the color draining from his face. He clearly wasn't expecting this first thing in the morning. Ochako gasps from somewhere behind him, only because of the fact that Izuku had found out.

"How did you-"

"How did I know?"

"Yeah. Did one of the idiots tell you because I swear to God.."

"Yes.. they did..?" Izuku rolls with it, given an opportunity to not have to explain himself.

"I'm gonna kill them."

Izuku immediately feels a pang of guilt for putting the blame on one of his friends before realizing that no one will remember anything by the next day. Only Izuku will. Right now, for him and him alone, he has to get answers from Katsuki.

"Were they lying?"

Katsuki pauses hesitantly.

"No. No they weren't"

Izuku stares at him with wide eyes. What should he say to that?

"Look just- just forget it."

Izuku wishes he could forget everything he's seen from this experience, except this. It's complicated and messy but this is the one thing he doesn't want to forget.

He doesn't know how to feel about that.

"I can't just forget about this Kacchan. I'm not blaming you its just..I just need some time. "

He had all the time in the world.

Katsuki, however, did not. He looked like he was about to shatter into a million sharp little pieces.

He nodded and that was that.

Izuku felt horrible when he saw Katsuki die this time. They hadn't talked to each other that whole day, not even to tell each other they will achieve a flawless victory like they assured each other every loop. It was the only constant that Izuku had actually enjoyed, everything else had become repetitive and annoying.

Izuku had messed up. Bad.

At least he will get a fresh start next time.

Chapter Text

Izuku blinks and sees Kacchan looking at him with a look of utter horror, disturbing the pattern of waking up in his bed that Izuku had long since grown used to.

What?

"How did you-"

Izuku had messed up. Bad.

"How did I.. know?"

"Yeah. Did one of the idiots tell you because I swear to God.."

"No. Figured out on my own."

"Was I that obvious?"

"Yeah. You were." It's not a lie, Katsuki doesn't need to know the full truth.

They stood in awkward silence. Izuku thinking about how the hell he ended up back here.

"Just.. forget about it."

Izuku doesn't want to mess this up again. He has to be fully honest with Katsuki, no more lies, no more half truths. Full transparency.

"I don't want to forget."

"Huh?"

Izuku had been such an idiot for not realizing it sooner. The realization made everything make sense, the way he always trailed behind Katsuki, the way black whip activated when Monoma insulted Katsuki, the way they so perfectly fit together. Hell, even this timeloop situation had been because Katsuki had died, Izuku can't be without his other half. The universe had placed him here for a reason, he had to tell him.

"I love you too."

Time didn't move. Izuku could wait forever.

"I can't love you. I shouldn't love you, I mean." Katsuki's voice leaked insecurity as he spoke, falling over his words.

Izuku waits. He's waited this long already, he can wait for Katsuki as long as he needs to.

"What if you die? " Katsuki sounds the most freightened Izuku has ever heard him, even on his deathbed he spoke with more confidence. Instead of his loud booming voice it's been replaced with that of just above a whisper, "What would I do without you?"

Izuku knows exactly what to say.

"You don't need to know. If you're in trouble, I'll save you. If I'm in trouble, you save me." Izuku repeats, "That's the way we will achieve a flawless victory."

Katsuki visibly relaxes, "Save to win. "

"Win to save."

They choose to walk this path together and nothing will tear them apart.

Izuku and Katsuki are both stained red with blood, but they are alive. More so than they'd ever been.

With all the heroes working together, they'd defeated the league of villains.

They'd defeated Shigaraki.

Chapter Text

Izuku wakes up to white. Nothing but empty walls and bright lights, it hurts his aching head. He would have closed his eyes again if it weren't for the fact that, out of the corner of his eye, he spots Katsuki in the hospital bed next to his.

After looking down at his own body and over at Katsuki's he can say they took a lot of damage during the final battle. Not a perfect victory in the logical sense of the term but, for Izuku at least, as long as Katsuki was alive, it was flawless.

Izuku breathes a sigh of relief. The timeloop was broken. Although, he had finally realized why he was stuck in the timeloop. There's no way he would have been able to go into the rest of his life without Katsuki beside him.

Katsuki opens his eyes, to much the same reaction as Izuku had. He squints as he adjusts to the light. He looked over at Izuku and immediately copies Izuku, breathing out a sigh.

They were both so utterly relieved to see the other, safe and sound.

"I promised us a flawless victory, didn't I?"

"You did. I wouldn't call this flawless, though."

Izuku frowns, "Stop it, getting injured was inevitable. No one died so I'd say it's perfect."

"That's not what I meant"

"Oh. What did you mean?"

"You didn't eat the damn pancakes this morning." Katsuki huffs angrily, turning his face away from Izuku.

The funny thing was that Izuku did eat the pancakes every morning for God knows how long now. Izuku audibly laughs at the irony of the situation.

"That's what this is about? Why do you care if I eat them or not?"

"I made them for you, you fuckwad."

"YOU MADE THEM FOR ME?"

"FUCKING DUH? Who else can make the most delicious fucking pancakes you'll ever taste in your life, sorry, would ever taste in your life. You missed your chance and now you'll never taste them." Katsuki teased.

"No Kacchan I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"

"Fine nerd. I'll forgive you if you do something for me in return."

"What is it?"

"Stay with me. For the rest of our lives. Never leave my side, you got me?"

"I don't think I could leave your side, even if I tried." The universe seems to agree with him.

"Then we are in agreement." Katsuki smiles and closes his eyes, pleased with himself. "I love you"

"Love you too Kacchan."

Chapter Text

The smell of sweet syrup wakes Izuku up.

It had been 20 days since the war had ended. Izuku and Katsuki had recovered from their injuries fairly quickly and were able to return to the dorms along with several of their classmates. Only Ochako was still at the hospital, having lost most of her blood. She was recovering well, being able to leave the hospital in about another week or so.

Izuku was glad to be back. He had woken up that first morning at the dorms to see Katsuki in the kitchen, making a plate of pancakes. Just for him. Izuku felt warm at the sight.

Izuku had thought he'd grown tired of the taste of pancakes, but he just needed a new perspective. He'd never grow tired of the taste of pancakes, just as he'd never grow tired of the blonde boy who made them.

He could eat those pancakes for the rest of his life.

When Katsuki saw Izuku walk in he gave his usual cocky smile. It was crooked and showed off his teeth in a threatening manner, Izuku thought it was hauntingly beautiful and decided it was his favorite sight.

Izuku sits down as Katsuki hands him a plate. This time, there's only 2 pancakes. There's no longer another plate with a larger stack, just the 2 for him. Pancakes have never tasted so good.  Katsuki sits down beside him, watching awkwardly. Izuku wonders what he's thinking about.

"Are they good?"

"Best pancakes I've ever had in my life."

"Good. I can make them for you whenever you want."

"Maybe I'll take you up on that offer." Izuku's tone of voice implies he's joking, but he's really not.

Katsuki smiles, pleased at Izuku's reaction to his food. "Good, I thought you'd like it nerd. Especially after how you reacted to the pancakes at that cafe a while back."

Izuku paused, very obviously having forgetten and trying to recall the memory. "You noticed that?"

Katsuki turned a light pink, having been called out. "So what if I did. You were making it pretty obvious that those pancakes were fucking good."

"I just.. can't believe you decided to make pancakes for the entire class first thing in the morning just because you thought I would like it."

"That aren't that hard to make. Barely took any time at all."

"Well, thank you Kacchan."

"Tch, don't even mention it." Katsuki scoffs.

Izuku and Katsuki both stay silent, an unanswered question lingering in the air. Izuku tries to go back to eating his food but just can't wait for an answer.

"Izuku" "Kacchan", they both try to speak at the same time.

"You go first, nerd" Katsuki says, the insult seeming more like a term of endearment. "I think I know what you're going to say, but let's hear it."

"Okay. I was just wondering... How do you feel about me exactly?" Izuku turns a shade of red as he rants, "I know we both said we love each other and all but I'd like to hear you tell me what that means to you, and if you mean it the same way I do when I say it. I mean it's not really something friends say to each other but love isn't always strictly romantic and-"

"Jesus Christ Izuku, " Katsuki cuts him off, "give me a second to respond."

Izuku quickly shuts up and his face is painted with embarrassment. "Sorry."

Katsuki sighs, "I meant I love you. Not in the way best friends say it, you idiot. Can't believe you even thought that."

Izuku huffs out a small laugh.

Katsuki continues, "I meant it in the way that I can't picture my life without you, Izuku. You're not getting rid of me because I love you and, I'm assuming, that I can't get rid of you because you love me."

He nods, confirming that he feels the same way.

"So yeah. I wouldn't say its platonic unless you want it to be. I need you in my life, it doesn't matter how."

"I feel the same way. A life without you doesn't even exist for me" Izuku knows that firsthand, "I love you, unconditionally. And, yeah, I don't think it's in a you're my best friend way but a I want you beside me for the rest of my life kind of way."

"Then we agree?"

"Yeah I think so."

They both pause. Izuku takes note of the way Katsuki is looking at him. His sharp features have now softened out, making him look much kinder. His mouth is pressed into a thin line, not bearing it's usual cocky smile but still showing emotion. Izuku finds that to be a relief. His eyes are still red like roses and, much like a rose, Izuku sees the beauty in it, even through the thorns.

Izuku thinks Katsuki is beautiful.

And he loves me.

"Kacchan" Izuku gulps, "what are we?

To anyone else it would have been unnoticeable, but Izuku sees Katsuki tense up a bit at the question.

"I.. I don't know."

Izuku feels a pang in his heart.

Katsuki continues, clearly not enjoying being this vulnerable. "I mean I don't know yet. I'd never expected you to find out about my feelings, much less return them. I just don't know yet."

He feels a pang of regret for having sprung this on Katsuki that morning.

"Yeah, okay. Take all the time you need."

Katsuki nods and walks away.

Guess Izuku will just have to play the waiting game, once again.

Chapter Text

Izuku wakes up with a groan. Now having his consciousness means remembering what happened the day before, which Izuku wishes to forget. They hadn't talked at all the rest of the day after Izuku asked what they were. Izuku worries he had spent the last year building up his relationship with Katsuki just to break it all apart with a stupid question, the thought of that makes Izuku sick to his stomach.

The problem is, Izuku doesn't know when Katsuki will bring this back up. In fact, Izuku doesn't know if he ever will. Izuku is left in suspense, waiting for an answer that may never come. He's been waiting this long what's a bit longer, right? It's just that he's tired of waiting. He's tired of wondering if him and Katsuki will ever figure this out.

He really doesn't want to wait. What he really wants to do is go to katsuki's dorm, break his door down with one for all, and shake an answer out of him. But Izuku respects Katsuki too much. So he doesn't.

He just waits.

A loud knocking sound at his door startles him causing him to accidentally fall off his bed with a thud. He quickly scrambles to his feet and bolts to the door, swiftly swinging the door open. Katsuki is standing there, clearly also having just woken up. Izuku wonders if he'd done anything else that morning before coming over, it was early after all.

"Kacchan! You can come in!" Izuku stepped to the side allowing Katsuki to come into his room if he wanted to.

Katsuki came into his room without any hesitation but still scoffed when he saw all Izukus All Might merch.

"Good to see you're still a nerd." Katsuki stated.

"Har har, very funny."

Katsuki pauses for a moment, "Look Izuku I wanted to.. talk about what you asked me the other day."

This was it. Izuku held his breath.

"God I hate doing this." Katsuki sighs and continues, "The thing is, I don't know what we are but I knows what I want us to be. I kept myself from it for so long but now, if you want it too, I think I can finally let myself have what I want."

Izuku takes a deep breath, "what do you want?"

"I want to be with you. I want to kiss your stupid face and put a ring on your finger so you'll be with me for the rest of our lives. I want to die next to you and be buried next to you even though we will both be dead and it won't matter anyways."

Izuku laughs, "Yes Kacchan, I want the same thing. The answer is yes!"

Katsukis eyes widen, "Okay now hold on, you didn't even give me the chance to ask!"

"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry, forget I said anything!" Izuku waves his hands, dismissing what he previously said.

"Date me, nerd?"

"Yes, a million times yes!"

Katsuki has the happiest and proudest look Izuku has ever seen on his face, he could just kiss him right here and now.

So he does.

He promised them a flawless victory and they both finally got it.